Chechen Refugees on Hunger Strike Demanding Resettlement

(Tbilisi. April 18, 2003. Civil Georgia) – Dozens of Chechen refugees in Duisi village of Pankisi gorge went on hunger strike demanding resettlement to the third country.

According to the head of the Duisi village Jarap Khangoshvili the hunger strike started on April 16.

Up to 3,800 Chechen refugees live in Pankisi gorge at the moment. They fled from second Chechen war, which started in 1999.

There were some unconfirmed reports recently that the Georgian authorities together with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees are engaged in talks with several countries seeking Chechen refugees? resettlement from Pankisi gorge. However neither UNHCR, nor the Georgian authorities confirmed the report.

This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)